2013 New Year’s Message by His Eminence the Most Venerable Jinje Sunim, Supreme Patriarch of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

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The Most Venerable Jinje, the Supreme Patriarch of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism delivered a Dharma teaching to welcome the year 2013 (B.E. 2557).

His Eminence began his teaching by wishing happiness for all sentient beings, “May all homes be filled with health and happiness; may all rivers and mountains be bejeweled with roses of Sharon in the morning of the New Year.” He then continued on with his teachings, “One lives life in destitute because he falls short of the wisdom, and when a horse becomes gaunt, its hair gets long and shaggy.” He also bestowed the hwadu of ‘What is the True Self before we are born out of our parents?’ and expounded that the hwadu must be held at all times, awake or asleep, fervently investigating and doubting to cultivate wisdom until we discover our True Self.

The full text of His Eminence’s teaching is as follows:

2013 New Year’s Message by His Eminence the Most Venerable Jinje, Supreme Patriarch of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

Void but numinous,

Empty yet sublime.

The fundamental luminosity is the essential foundation of the living Buddha,

All worldlings and sages abide and penetrate extensively in all directions.

May all homes be filled with health and happiness; may all rivers and mountains be bejeweled with the roses of Sharon in the morning of the New Year.

One lives life in destitute because he falls short of the wisdom, and when a horse becomes gaunt, its hair gets long and shaggy. ‘What is the True Self before we are born out of our parents?’ Hold this hwadu at all times, awake or asleep, fervently investigating and doubting.

Once upon a time, Congshen (從諗) renounced the world and became a novice monk. When he sought an audience with Master Nanquan (南泉), the Master asked,

“Where are you from?”

“I am from the Temple of Auspicious Sign.”

“If you are from the Temple of Auspicious Sign, then did you see the auspicious image (相)?”

“I did not see any auspicious image, but I saw a reclining Buddha.”

“Are you a novice monk (沙彌僧) with a master or one without?”

“Master, the January moon is very cold. Please take care of your precious Dharma body.”

When Master Nanquan heard this reply, the Master called the monk in charge of the temple affairs and ordered him to set up a clean room for the novice monk.

People of Korea, do you understand where the question and answer between the two masters fall on?